Mercer County commissioners this week approved a contract to accept nearly $150,000 in federal funds for projects in Celina and several area communities.

The "formula" funding is one of several types of grants administered through the Ohio Department of Development's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. It is a non-competitive grant the county's economic development office applies for every two years. [More]

ROCKFORD - The 235th birthday of America's earliest forester and environmentalist - the wandering Johnny Appleseed - was celebrated in Rockford on Thursday afternoon with a special tree planting.

Two genetically authentic Johnny Appleseed Rambo trees were placed in the ground at the site of a former apple tree nursery. Located at 109 W. Bridge St., 1,000 apple trees planted by Appleseed once sprouted on the property now owned by Rockford resident Mike Schumm. [More]

ROCKFORD - For three sets on Thursday night, the Parkway Panthers had the top-ranked Marion Local Flyers on the ropes, but the two-time defending state champions dug deep and hung on for a hard-earned Midwest Athletic Conference victory.

The Panthers became the first team this year to take a set from the Flyers and were within a whisker of going up two to one, but the Flyers rallied and went on to take the match by scores of 25-23, 17-25, 28-26 and 25-14. [More]